Judge: Woman accused of driving kids into Atlantic Ocean no longer involuntary committed

DeLAND, Fla. — A Volusia County judge decided Thursday that a woman accused of driving her car into the ocean with her three children inside in 2014 does not meet the criteria for involuntary commitment at a state hospital.

Earlier this month, state doctors completed conflicting reports on Ebony Wilkerson's mental health.

During court Thursday, however, two state doctors said Wilkerson no longer meets the criteria for involuntary commitment.

"God works in mysterious ways," said Ebony's husband Lutful Ronjon. "Doing a 360, starting from here and it's going to end here."

One doctor met with Wilkerson face-to-face six times between March and May and said she repeatedly minimized her mental health illness.

The judge said for people to be committed, they must suffer from a mental illness and be a danger either to themselves or to others.

Wilkerson will be moved from a state hospital to a private facility in Daytona Beach. Because she stopped taking her medicine last year, she will receive all her medicines by injections, the judge said.

The doctors testified Wilkerson would not be successful in her treatment if she was released into the care of her family.

Wilkerson can't see her children until a therapist says it's appropriate, the judge ruled.

The children weren't injured in the incident. They live with their father in South Carolina.

Wilkerson's family said they're just ready to move on.

"You always got to have faith and you've got to trust in God, and you've got to move forward. That's what we always have been doing," Ronjon said.

Wilkerson has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of child abuse.

Wilkerson could be moved to the private facility as early as Friday.

Cox Media Group